Kermit TF wrote:Top job !I noticed you wrote the frame and forks weigh 3kg, is it a Tange infinity frame ? (interesting that the Ishiwata frames are either 1.9 or 2.2kg..) my gun metal Apollo 3.5 weighs about the same.I bought another V 4 weeks ago, only arrived on thursday, need to sell my small one now

Not sure about the Tange. One would think I should know.........

Where do you keep finding the V's? I thought they'd be a reasonably rare beast.

I've got everything back at the LBS now getting put back together. I decided to leave the group set in "as is" condition. It's all in pretty good shape anyway. Still haven't found proper hood covers though

What groupset does yours have ?Hehe, bikes tend to find their owners... I bought one a year ago as a mid 80s apollo, (the hand painted "V" on the top had worn off) its the Grecian gold that gives them away. That paint job looks superb.

Kermit TF wrote:What groupset does yours have ?Hehe, bikes tend to find their owners... I bought one a year ago as a mid 80s apollo, (the hand painted "V" on the top had worn off) its the Grecian gold that gives them away. That paint job looks superb.

The paint job is exceptional, other than the paint that ended up inside the BB.

5 speed spin on clusters are threaded and you need the right tool (costs around $15) and a vice to get them off. Each brand of cluster, Suntour/Regina/Shimano etc uses a different shaped tool. You use the quick release or something similar to hold the tool in place which is locked in a vice then you rotate the wheel in the opposite direction of travel and hope the cluster spins off. Some people use spanners or a shifter instead of a vice but using the vice allows you more leverage. Check on Youtube if your not sure, but it's pretty simple.

I have just discovered this thread, after picking up a Ten Dollar tip shop 1982 Apollo 1 10 Speed it has a Kuhawara/Tange Frame in a beautiful Green, it has a few Rust spots around it with all the original Decals, so I am not going to sand blast and repaint.....but I have had the Bike stripped down to its bare bones, I then lightly wet and dried it, then wiped it over with Prepsol, and applied Three coats of clear coat, I am now building up the coats of polish on it......the Wheels and Running gear on it was too far gone so I am going to replace with all new parts.....but in period style

I do not know how to post Photos here, so here is my Facebook link with some photos

The photos of the stripped Frame are after it has been washed, wet and dried, clear coated and a few coats of polish, it now shines like a Diamond in the rough, you can just about see your face in the rust

The Blue Bike is just something I Mocked up, it has the old 27 inch wheels in a 26 inch Frame.......mmmmm now let me think a Roughy Ratster

Malvernrats wrote:Picked this up today 5 speed , suntour GT rdSugino cranks 24" wheels [url=http://s676.photobucket.com/user/ayepeacee/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image-11.jpg.html]Is this something that is seen a lot?Makes a great addition to my other Apollos

Nice find! And no that is definitely not something that is seen a lot . Larger tricycles of any sort are pretty uncommon, i was over the moon when i found a Gomier to restore for my wife. It's a lot of fun to ride, quite a few quirks like pulling to the side with the road camber or when using the rear brake as one of the rear wheels just spins freely. Of course one wheel drive means you just put your weight to one side and pedal like hell to do a burnout .

When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments- Elizabeth West.

I have just discovered this thread, after picking up a Ten Dollar tip shop 1982 Apollo 1 10 Speed it has a Kuhawara/Tange Frame in a beautiful Green, it has a few Rust spots around it with all the original Decals, so I am not going to sand blast and repaint.....but I have had the Bike stripped down to its bare bones, I then lightly wet and dried it, then wiped it over with Prepsol, and applied Three coats of clear coat, I am now building up the coats of polish on it......the Wheels and Running gear on it was too far gone so I am going to replace with all new parts.....but in period style

I do not know how to post Photos here, so here is my Facebook link with some photos

I have just discovered this thread, after picking up a Ten Dollar tip shop 1982 Apollo 1 10 Speed it has a Kuhawara/Tange Frame in a beautiful Green, it has a few Rust spots around it with all the original Decals, so I am not going to sand blast and repaint.....but I have had the Bike stripped down to its bare bones, I then lightly wet and dried it, then wiped it over with Prepsol, and applied Three coats of clear coat, I am now building up the coats of polish on it......the Wheels and Running gear on it was too far gone so I am going to replace with all new parts.....but in period style

I do not know how to post Photos here, so here is my Facebook link with some photos

I just rebuilt an old 25" Apollo IV. Nothing left of the original except for the frame. This will be my new commuter. I've got a bit of an epic planned for the weekend which will involve some dirt roads so I have not mounted the mudguards yet.

Thanks lads. She's a bit rough around the edges but seems structurally sound. I've taken her for a couple of shakedown rides. Not fast on the climbs but very nice on the dirt and a rocket on the descents.

Kermit TF wrote:I have to ask....why did you choose to restore an apollo 1 ?

Because I love bringing old bikes back to life, whether they are rare or not

I love that response!

I just finished cleaning up an Apollo I which I rescued from hard rubbish metal scavangers, now giving it to a 20-something family friend who is very excited to own it!

A little snapshot... Before:

After:

That's what it's all about for me. Saving the environment and teaching kids to appreciate a time when things were not designed with "inbuilt obsolescence".

That's a common term for manufacturers these days, by the way. EG: electronics companies use 50 cents diodes with 600 hour lifetimes so however good the rest of the appliance is, it will stop working after 600 hours. Then it goes on the scraphead because the expert man-hour $$$ required to diagnose & fix the point of failure are ridiculous. This is what's killing our planet.

Dont get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with Spending a little bit of money "cleaning" up an apollo 1 or apollo 2 , its when I see guys spending $2-300 on an apollo that you could buy for $75-100 in good nick to begin with. Thats the point Im making.

Kermit TF wrote:I have to ask....why did you choose to restore an apollo 1 ?

Because I love bringing old bikes back to life, whether they are rare or not

I love that response!

I just finished cleaning up an Apollo I which I rescued from hard rubbish metal scavangers, now giving it to a 20-something family friend who is very excited to own it!

A little snapshot... Before:

After:

That's what it's all about for me. Saving the environment and teaching kids to appreciate a time when things were not designed with "inbuilt obsolescence".

That's a common term for manufacturers these days, by the way. EG: electronics companies use 50 cents diodes with 600 hour lifetimes so however good the rest of the appliance is, it will stop working after 600 hours. Then it goes on the scraphead because the expert man-hour $$$ required to diagnose & fix the point of failure are ridiculous. This is what's killing our planet.

Thank You, I have not been on for a while as I have a few bike projects going on as well as the Apollo

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